examples from the past few years. If you're not looking through Hentai, it isn't easy. Sakura Trick is a rare gem that isn't afraid to go all out, as if in direct opposition to the current trends. With its cast of colorful characters, along with an intimate romance that has the ability to melt the hearts of countless viewers, Sakura Trick offers solid proof that there is too much untapped potential present in the Yuri genre for it to keep being neglected any further.There isn't any overarching story present in Sakura Trick, as is usually the case with Slice of Life series taking place at high school. Instead, each episode is divided up into two segments that depict a different day from Haruka and Yuu's first year of school as they deal with the comical situations that their budding relationship gets them into, as well as the complications that inevitably arise along the way. The first segment lasts for around half an episode, and then the second takes up the remaining run-time while covering a different scenario. Despite this, the pacing for each part isn't as fast as you would expect. A lot is packed into twenty minutes, but there's plenty of slow and easy-going moments that will make you feel very comfortable with the way things are proceeding. While some may view the lack of a concrete story as a negative point, it's clear that Sakura Trick's priorities lie with the characters and their romantic development.As the main couple of the show, Haruka and Yuu get the most time in the spotlight. Haruka is very possessive of Yuu, and gets jealous whenever others get too close. She's very assertive, but never to the point where she does anything that Yuu wouldn't be okay with. She also has a very overactive imagination, leading to some of the best comedic moments of the show. Her perverted fantasies make her a far more realistic character, as they mirror the thoughts that any young girl might have towards the person that they like. Yuu on the other hand, has a more stubborn personality, and isn't as honest with herself as Haruka is. This results in some great progression later on, as Yuu begins to express herself to Haruka in more direct ways. The contrast between Haruka and Yuu makes their unique form of love all the more fascinating to watch, and at no point does it feel unnatural that they are together.Yuu's older sister Mitsuki provides needless conflict to Haruka and Yuu's relationship, but still manages to be likable in her own right. She forms a crush on Haruka, and struggles to come to terms with her newly found affection. The issue is that this creates a bit of unnecessary drama later on, which just feels out of place in a show that was doing so well without it.Haruka and Yuu are joined by a circle of close friends that liven up their high school days. Noda Kotone is a rich, playful girl who lives her life to the fullest in order to leave no regrets behind. She is staying at the same house as the quiet and reserved Shizuku, who doesn't have much of a presence. Eventually a love forms between the two of them as well. The few scenes that they share together are some of the cutest of the whole show, so it's really a shame that more episodes weren't devoted to expanding upon their relationship. The last two characters are Kaede and Yuzu, who are mostly present to provide their own wacky sense of humor. They play their roles near-perfectly, but they're definitely low on the show's priority list. For what little screen time they share alone together, they are given a fair amount of depth. Without these supporting characters, Sakura Trick would lose a large piece of what makes it so enjoyable.Sakura Trick is renowned for its adorable romance, and this is one area where it really shines. If you want to see some heartfelt moments between two lovers, this series has you more than covered. It doesn't take much to throw two characters on screen and have them kiss, and indeed Sakura Trick does do this, but there's a reason why it works so well. It's because the emotions feel genuine. Haruka and Yuu share a relationship greater than that of two random girls making out solely to appeal to the male demographic. This isn't some forced, fake romance--it's real.There are numerous examples that establish the authenticity of these feelings. We can tell that Haruka cares more about Yuu's happiness than her own. She'll go out of her way to form a study group when Yuu is having trouble in class, and she'll make an appeal to the student council to have a cheering squad just so Yuu can fulfill her dream of being a cheerleader. It's the same with Yuu, who despite getting into quarrels with Haruka, always has her in mind. She knows Haruka really values their kisses, so even though she has a more passive personality, she tries her best to take the initiative. It's because of this mutual affection that a mere kiss can become something truly special. The fact that Sakura Trick didn't stop at pointless fan service and went that extra mile by presenting a believable romance reveals that the creators had more than just money on their minds. Other romance series can take a few pointers from the pure, consensual love present in Sakura Trick.If you're after a few laughs, Sakura Trick will most likely satisfy in that department. This show is based off of the original 4-koma manga, where a joke needs to be effectively executed in a mere four panels, so extra care is put into each and every punchline. It never feels like a joke was thrown in just for the heck of it, and some even reveal quite a bit about the characters involved. Unfortunately, there are a few cliches and repetitive jokes, such as misunderstandings between characters, mixed in with the more well-written material. Overall, I wouldn't say the comedy is anything entirely new or groundbreaking, but the characters are what really make it work.A lot of effort was put into Sakura Trick's animation, and it shows in all the right ways. Vivid colors are used to emphasize the characters' unique personalities, while the backgrounds are less detailed but focus more on creating a calming atmosphere that make watching very easy on the eyes. If you notice any similarities to another major animation studio, then you aren't imagining things. Studio DEEN uses many of Shaft's techniques, to the point where you'd think it was a Shaft work before looking it up. It closely mimics many aspects of the popular series Hidamari Sketch (the primary reason being that the same director was involved); it uses the same quick scene transitions and sound effects, as well as symbols used on screen to represent the position or introduction of a character. Because of this, Sakura Trick fails to establish its own identity in the visuals department. They aren't exactly terrible though, and anyone unfamiliar with Shaft's works will still be able to appreciate them.On the subject of visuals, I should also note that the fan service can really get obnoxious at times. The camera just loves to focus on bouncing breasts and the thighs of characters at the most unfitting times. This is one of the major reasons why I couldn't bring myself to fully enjoy the show. Sure, it's nowhere near as bad other current shows, but those looking for a completely pure experience will sadly be disappointed by this fact.The sound itself is unremarkable, with the exception of the soft piano and violin tracks that play during romantic scenes. The opening and ending themes will be catchy enough to stay stuck in your head for a while, and I'd say that they are what stand out the most. The voice actors also put on a above-average performance, especially Iguchi Yuka as Yuu and Tomatsu Haruka as Haruka.Sakura Trick is one of my favorite romance anime to come out in recent years. It's much more than mindless fan service devoid of any sort of substance, and actually portrays a love that feels both endearing and natural. While each character has their own flaws, it only makes them feel more human and less like an uninspired cardboard cutout. Sakura Trick is a step in the right direction for romance shows, and for Yuri in general. Hopefully it will inspire others to create better stories that depict this often neglected form of love. I certainly hope that time comes soon.